'Memories of Old Crosby, 1868-1900'
Date(s): 1916
Scope & Content: Typescript text of paper read at Crosby Wesley Guild November 1916. The recollection of the Crosby village commence before the railway or any of the church halls were built. There are stories mentioning residents of the village, their roles and where they lived such as: Captain Anderson, Cedar Lodge; Thomas Creer and wife, Eyreton Castle; Thomas Karran, Schoolmaster; James Burrows, Crosby Hotel and James Kay, the Highlander. Other characters referenced include Tom Craine, a pig rearer 'frequently taken by the fairies...when trying to find his front door', the Vicar, Rev. Robert Wesley Aitken 'as a preacher he could hardly called a star, but as a sportsman his superior was hard to find', and Thomas Lees ' who use to strike terror into the boys'. There are descriptions of the parish fair day at Candlemas also known as Greeba Fair or James Kay's Fair as it was located near to the Highlander Inn. By the evening of the fair the whole house was open and 'every room was filled with drinking, step dancing, the singing of lewd songs, card playing and fighting', while a fiddler from Douglas named Barr was engaged to play at the fair. There is a description of the Old Parish Club procession on Holy Thursday (Maundy) and its route through the parish; also a description of the chapel, with preachers listed and style of service including reference to services before instruments were used. Sim describes the inauguration of the railway and the excitement it caused.
Administration / Biographical History: Robert Samuel Sim, a builder, son of Esther Ratcliffe and Isaac Sim, was baptised in 1860 in Marown.
Language: English
Extent: 9 pages
Item name: text of address
Collection: Manuscript Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: MS 06345
Retrieval number: MD 260
Record class: Private
Access conditions: No regulations or restrictions are implemented on this material. Advance notification of a research visit is advisable by emailing library@mnh.gov.im